Spiral conveyor belt

ABSTRACT

A spiral conveyor belt adapted to turn on a radius. The spiral conveyor belt comprises a plurality of link assemblies with each of the link assemblies having a plurality of forward link ends and a plurality of rearward link ends. Each link assembly is positioned near one of the other link assemblies with the forward link ends on one of the link assemblies being disposed near the rearward link ends on the other link assembly. A link shaft is disposed through the forward link ends and the rearward link ends of the adjacent link assemblies for interconnecting the link assemblies to form the spiral conveyor belt. The forward link ends and the rearward link ends on each of the link assemblies near at least a first end of the link assembly are spaced a distance apart and connected by connecting members whereby the forward link ends and the rearward link ends and the connecting members connected thereto are collapsible generally toward each other or expandable generally away from each other as the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius. Each of the link shafts is tapered at least near the first end thereof to permit movement of the tapered portion of the link shaft in shaft openings in the forward and rearward link ends as the spiral conveyor belt is turned on a radius.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to conveyor belts and how moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a spiral conveyor beltadapted to be turned on a radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a typical link assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing four link assemblies interconnected toform a spiral conveyor belt, the link assemblies being shown in aposition where the spiral conveyor belt is starting to turn on theradius.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a plurality of link assemblies indiagrammatic line form as the spiral conveyor belt is turned on aradius.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a typical link shaft.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a typical forward link end and rearward linkend in the second section of each of the link assemblies.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a typical forward link end and rearward linkend in a first or third section of the link assemblies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There are many instances when it is necessary for a conveyor belt to beturned on a radius for various reasons such as merely changing thedirection of travel. Various problems occur when turning a conveyor belton a radius which limit the radius on which a given conveyor belt can beturned. One problem for example with prior conveyor belts has been thatmost of the load imposed on the link shafts has been imposed on the linkshafts near the outer edge of the conveyor as the conveyor belt isturned on the radius. This can result in the link shafts breaking ordamage to the link assemblies. To permit conveyor belts to be turned ona radius, the holes in the link assemblies where the link shafts extendthrough have been elongated or enlarged to accommodate the compressionor expansion of the link assemblies as the conveyor belt is turned onthe radius. There is a limit of course to how large a hole can be madeor elongated to accommodate this expansion or compression of the linkassemblies. The present spiral conveyor is designed and constructed topermit a given size of conveyor to turn on a smaller radius as comparedto prior art spiral type conveyors, and to distribute most of the loadon a mid section of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt is beingturned.

The present invention comprises a spiral conveyor 10 (partially shown inFIG. 2 and partially and diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3) which isadapted to turn on a radius. The spiral conveyor 10 comprises aplurality of link assemblies 12. Each of the link assemblies 12preferably is constructed of a plastic or ceramic material, althoughthey could be constructed of metal. A typical link assembly 12 is shownin FIG. 1 and four link assemblies 12 are shown in FIG. 2 interconnectedto form a portion of the spiral conveyor 10 and the link assemblies 12are diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3 as straight lines with each linkassembly being represented in FIG. 3 by two straight lines spaced adistance apart and disposed about adjacent each other.

Each link assembly 12 includes a forward end 14 (FIG. 1), a rearward end16 (FIG. 1), a first side 18 (FIG. 1) and a second side 20 (FIG. 1).

A plurality of forward link ends 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are formed on theforward end 14 of each link assembly 12. The forward link ends 22 oneach link assembly 12 are spaced a distance apart and spaced along theforward end 14 of the link assembly 12. A forward shaft opening 24(shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in dashed lines) is formed through each of theforward link ends 22. The forward shaft openings 24 are generallyaligned.

A plurality of rearward link ends 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are formed on therearward end 16 of each of the link assemblies 12. The rearward linkends 26 on each of the link assemblies 12 are spaced a distance apartand spaced along the rearward end 16 of each link assembly 12. Arearward shaft opening 28 (shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) isformed through each of the rearward link ends 26. The rearward shaftopenings 28 are generally aligned.

The forward end 14 of each link assembly 12 is disposed near therearward end 16 of one of the other link assemblies 12 and positioned sothat the forward link ends 22 on each of the link assemblies 12 arepositioned between the rearward link ends 26 on one of the other linkassemblies 12 with the forward shaft opening 24 being aligned with therearward shaft openings 28. More particularly, each of the forward linkends 22 on each of the link assemblies 12 is disposed between twoadjacent rearward link ends 26 on one of the other link assemblies 12with the forward shaft openings 24 and the rearward shaft openings 28being aligned.

The spiral conveyor 10 includes a plurality of link shafts 30 (only oneof the link shafts 30 being designated with a reference numeral in FIG.2). Each of the link shafts 30 is disposed through the aligned forwardshaft openings 24 and rearward shaft openings 28 to interconnect each ofthe link assemblies 12 with one of the other link assemblies 12 to formthe spiral conveyor belt 10.

The link assemblies 12 are connected to form the spiral conveyor belt 10with a first side 32 (FIG. 3) and a second side 34 (FIG. 3). The spiralconveyor belt 10 may travel in a forward direction 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3)and is constructed to be turned on a radius 38 (FIG. 3) to the forwarddirection 36 of travel extending at an angle with respect to the forwarddirection 36 of travel.

As shown in FIG. 3, the spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius38 through an angle of about one hundred eighty degrees. It should benoted that the spiral conveyor belt 10 may be turned on the radius 38through any desired angle and the spiral conveyor belt 10 is shown inFIG. 3 as being turned through an angle of one hundred eighty degreesmerely for illustrative purposes only. The radius 38 extends from apoint 40 (FIG. 3) which is spaced a distance 42 (FIG. 3) from the firstside 32 of the spiral conveyor belt 10.

Each of the link assemblies 12 is divided into a first section 44 (FIG.1), a second section 46 (FIG. 1) and a third section 48 (FIG. 1). Thefirst section 44 extends from about the first side 18 of the linkassembly 12 a distance toward the second side 20 of the link assembly12. The second section 46 extends from about the first section 44 adistance toward the second side 20 of the link assembly 12. The thirdsection 48 extends from about the second section 46 to about the secondside 20 of the link assembly 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of thelink assemblies 12 is an integrally formed link assembly 12 constructedof a plastic or ceramic material and the sections 44, 46 and 48 areintegrally constructed and connected. In some embodiments, the secondsection 46 may comprise multiple intermediate portions of the linkassembly interconnected by the link shafts 30 to form the continuouslink assembly 12. Alternately or in addition, the first and the thirdsections 44 and 48 may comprise separate elements interconnected withthe second section 46 by the link shafts 30 to form the continuous linkassembly 12. It also should be noted that, in some embodiments, thesecond section 46 may be constructed in a different manner as comparedto the first and the third sections 44 and 46. For example, the secondsection 46 might comprise a solid flat top type of conveying elementwhile the first and the third sections 44 and 48 comprise the link endsinterconnected by the connecting members as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2and as will be described in greater detail below.

The forward link ends 22 in the first section 44 are designated in FIGS.1 and 2 with the reference numeral 22a, the forward link ends 22 in thesecond section 46 are designated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the referencenumeral 22b and the forward link ends 22 in the third section 48 aredesignated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the reference numeral 22c in FIGS. 1 and2.

The rearward link ends 26 are formed on the rearward end 16 of the linkassemblies 12 as described before. The rearward link ends 26 in thefirst section 44 are designated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the referencenumeral 26a, the rearward link ends 26 in the second section 46 aredesignated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the reference numeral 26b and therearward link ends 26 in the third section 48 are designated by thereference numeral 26c in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The forward link ends 22a in the first section 44 are spaced apart afirst distance 52 (FIG. 1). The forward link ends 22b in the secondsection 46 are spaced apart a second distance 54 (FIG. 1). The forwardlink ends 26c in the third section are spaced apart a third distance 56(FIG. 1).

The rearward link ends 26a in the first section 44 are spaced apart afirst distance 58 (FIG. 1). The rearward link ends 26b in the secondsection 46 are spaced apart a second distance 60 (FIG. 1). The rearwardlink ends 26c in the third section 48 are spaced apart a third distance62 (FIG. 1).

In a preferred embodiment, the second distance 54 is slightly greaterthan the thickness of the rearward link ends 26b so that each of therearward link ends 26b may be disposed in the space formed by thedistance 54 between two of the forward link ends 22b. The first and thethird distances 52 and 56 and the first and the third distances 58 and62 each are sized to cooperate with the connecting members (describedbelow) to permit the required compression and expansion between theforward link ends 22a and 22c and the rearward link ends 26a and 26c asthe spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius 38.

It should be noted that the distances 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62 allcould be equal or all could be different in various embodiments of thepresent invention as desired in a particular application. The distances54 and 60 are not critical with respect to the present invention and itonly is necessary that the distance 54 be sized with respect to thethickness of the rearward link ends 26b so that the rearward link ends26b can be positioned between pairs of forward link ends 22b asdescribed before, the distance 60 being sized to accommodate at leastone of the forward link ends 22b.

The forward link ends 22b in the first section 44 are connected to therearward link ends 26b in the second section 46 by way of connectingmembers 64 (FIG. 1). The connecting members 64 are interconnected by across member 66 (FIG. 1). The connecting members 64 interconnecting eachforward link end 22b with a corresponding rearward link end 26b areoffset at about a mid point forming a squared Z-shape with adjacentpairs of the connecting members 64 forming a somewhat offset H-shape. Itshould be noted that in lieu of the connecting members 64 and the crossmembers 66 interconnecting the forward link ends 22b with the rearwardlink ends 26b, a solid structure could be substituted forming a flat topconveying system or some other configuration if desired in a particularapplication.

The forward link ends 22a in the first section 44 are interconnected byway of connecting members 68 (FIG. 1). Each of the connecting members 68extends about angularly from one of the forward link ends 22a to theinterconnected corresponding rearward link end 26a. The connectingmembers 68 cooperate such that the connecting members 68 connecting onelink end 22a with two link ends 26a forms a somewhat Y-shape.

The connecting members 68 each have a generally rectangularly shapedcross section. Each of the connecting members 68 has a thickness 70(FIG. 1). The thickness 70 is sized to be as thin as practical forreasons which will be made more apparent below.

The forward link ends 22c in the third section 48 are interconnected byway of connecting members 72 (FIG. 1). Each of the connecting members 72extends about angularly from one of the forward link ends 22c to theinterconnected corresponding rearward link end 26c. The connectingmembers 72 cooperate such that the connecting members 68 connecting oneof the link ends 22c with two of the link ends 26c forms a somewhatY-shape.

The connecting members 72 each have a generally rectangularly shapedcross section. Each of the connecting members 72 has a thickness 74(FIG. 1). The thickness 70 is sized to be as thin as practical forreasons which will be made more apparent below.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting members 68 and 72 arevirtually identical in shape and have identical thicknesses 70 and 74.By the same token, the first and the third distances 52 and 56 are aboutequal and the first and the third distances 58 and 62 are about equal.In short, the first and the third sections in one preferred embodimentare identical in construction which will permit the spiral conveyor belt10 to be turned on a radius in either direction as will be made moreapparent below. Alternately, the first and the third sections 44 and 48may be constructed different to permit the spiral conveyor belt 10 to beturned on one radius in one direction and a different radius in anopposite direction. Further, the third section 48 could be eliminated ifdesired in a particular application, although in this instance thespiral conveyor belt 10 would be adapted to turn in only one direction.

Shown in FIG. 4 is a typical link shaft 30. Each link shaft 30 has afirst end 80 and a second end 82. A portion of the link shaft 30 nearthe first end 80 thereof is tapered inwardly toward the first end 80forming a tapered first section 84 of the link shaft 80. A mid sectionof the link shaft 30 forms a non-tapered second section 86 of the linkshaft 30. A portion of the link shaft 30 near the second end 82 istapered toward the second end 82 forming a tapered third section 88 ofthe link shaft 30.

The tapered first section 84 extends from the first end 80 a distancetoward the second end 82. The non-tapered second section 86 extends adistance from the tapered first section 84 toward the second end 82. Thetapered third section 88 extends from the non tapered second section 86to about the second end 82.

The link shaft 30 has a diameter 90 in the non-tapered second section86. The link shaft 30 is tapered in the tapered first section 84 to adiameter 92 at the first end 80. The link shaft 30 is tapered in thetapered third section 88 to a diameter 94 at the second end 82. Thediameters 92 and 94 are about equal and the diameters 92 and 94 each aresmaller than the diameter 90.

When the link shafts 30 are positioned through the aligned forward shaftopenings 24 and rearward shaft openings 28, the link shafts 30 are sizedso that the first end 80 of each of the link shafts 30 is disposed nearthe first side 18 of the link assemblies 12 and the second end 82 of thelink shafts 30 is disposed near the second side 20 of the linkassemblies 12. Further, each of the link shafts 30 is sized so that thetapered first section 84 of each of the link shafts 30 extends throughthe first section 44 of the link assemblies 12, the non-tapered secondsection 86 of the link shafts 30 extends through the second sections 46of the link assemblies 12 and the tapered third section 88 of each ofthe link shafts 30 extends through the third sections 48 of the linkassemblies 12. In other words, the length of the tapered first section84 is about equal to the length of the first section 44, the length ofthe non-tapered second section 86 is about equal to the length of thesecond section 46, and the length of the tapered third section 88 isabout equal to the length of the third section 44.

The forward shaft openings 24b in the second sections 46 each have adiameter 96 (FIG. 5) which is slightly larger than the diameter 90 ofthe link shafts 30 throughout the non-tapered second sections 86.Further, the rearward shaft openings 28b in the second sections 46 eachhave a diameter 98 (FIG. 5) which is slightly larger than the diameter96. It should be noted that the forward shaft openings 24b and therearward shaft openings 28b may be oblong or formed on a radius so thatthe link shaft rolls in the forward and the rearward shaft openings 24band 28b in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,942, titledCONVEYOR BELT, issued Nov. 27, 1990, which disclosure hereby isincorporated herein by reference.

The forward shaft openings 24a or 24c in the first and third sections 44and 48 each are oblong shaped and have a length 100 (FIG. 6) and thelength 100 is greater than the diameters 90, 92 or 94 of the link shafts80 to permit movement of the first or third sections 84 and 88 of thelink shafts 30 in the forward shaft openings 24a and 24c, respectively.The rearward shaft openings 28a or 28c in the first and third sections44 and 48 each are oblong shaped and have a length 102 (FIG. 6) and thelength 102 is greater than the diameters 90, 92 or 94 of the link shafts80 to permit movement of the first or third sections 84 and 88 of thelink shafts 30 in the rearward shaft openings 28a or 28c, respectively.The lengths 100 and 102 are about equal and each of the lengths 100 and102 is larger than the diameter 92 or 94 of the link shafts 30.

When the spiral conveyor belt 10 or a portion thereof is moving in theforward direction 36, the non-tapered second sections 86 of the linkshafts 30 engage the adjacent portions of the forward and rearward linkends 22b and 22c and carry substantially all of the load transmittedthroughout the spiral conveyor belt 10. In this instance, virtually noneof the load is carried by the tapered first and third sections 84 and 88of the link shafts 30.

When the spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius 38, the forwardlink ends 22a are compressed as illustrated in FIG. 2 thereby causingthe distances 52 to be decreased and causing the forward link ends 22ato be moved in directions generally toward each other. Further, as thespiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius 38, the rearward linkends 26a are expanded thereby increasing the distances 58 and moving therearward link ends 26a in directions generally away from each other. Thecollapsing and expanding of the forward and rearward link ends 22a and26b permits the spiral conveyor belt 10 to be turned on the radius 38.The collapsing and expanding of the forward link ends 22a and 26a ispermitted by the Y-shaped connecting members 68 interconnecting theforward link ends 22a with the rearward link ends 26a. The thicknesses70 of the connecting members 68 in the first section 44 are sized to beas small as possible to permit the maximum collapsibility andexpandibility of the connecting members 64 and the corresponding forwardlink ends 22 and 26a thereby permitting the spiral conveyor belt 10 tobe turned on the radius 38 as small as possible.

The tapered first section 84 of the link shafts 30 cooperates with theelongated forward and rearward shaft openings 24a and 28a to permit thetapered first section 84 of the link shafts 30 to move the maximumdistance within the forward shaft openings 24a and the rearward shaftopenings 28a as the spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius 38thereby minimizing the radius 38 upon which the spiral conveyor belt 10may be turned.

Further, the tapered third section 88 of the link shafts 30 cooperateswith the elongated forward and rearward shaft openings 24c and 28c inthe third sections 48 of the link assemblies 12 so that the taperedthird sections 88 of the link shafts 30 do not in substantially engagethe adjacent portions of the forward link ends 22c and the rearward linkends 26c as the spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius 38.Thus, as the spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on the radius 38, theload substantially is carried by the non-tapered second sections 86 ofthe link shafts 30 thereby reducing the load to be carried by thetapered third sections 88 of the link shafts 30 of the spiral conveyorbelt 10 is turned on the radius 38.

If the spiral conveyor belt 10 is turned on a radius in a directionopposite to that just described, the forward and rearward link ends 22cand 26c are expanded and compressed in a manner like that describedbefore with respect to the forward and rearward link ends 24a and 26a.

It should be noted that the link shafts 30 each could be separated intothree or more segments rather than a single integrally formed link shaft30 as shown in FIG. 4. If the link shaft 30 is separate into three ormore segments, preferably the link shafts 30 would be oriented in thespiral conveyor belt 10 so that the separations between the segments ofone link shaft 30 are staggered with respect to the separations betweenthe segments of an adjacent link shaft 30 for reinforcement purposes.

It is significant to note that the connecting members 68 and 72 are notinterconnected with a cross member to permit the compression andexpansion of the link ends 22a or 22c and 26a or 26c in the mannerdescribed before.

The link shafts 30 may be retained in place in a number of differentways. In one embodiment, a retainer is formed on the link shaft 30shaped so that the link shaft 30 is forced through the appropriateopenings and the retainer locks the link shafts 30 in place.

By forming the link assemblies with different ends the conveyor belt canbe formed into the spiral belt described herein where the ends permitmovement of one end relative to an adjacent end when the conveyor beltis turned, or the ends can be formed to form the conveyor belt to bedriven in a straight line with no turningability.

In one embodiment, the cross member extends between the upper and lowersurfaces of the link assemblies, and a product would be conveyed oneither one of the surfaces and the belt normally would be driven fromthe other surface. Preferably, the cross member extends from the uppersurface a distance and is spaced a distance from the lower surface. Inthis manner, the belt can be driven from either the upper surface or thelower surface and the spacing permits a comb transfer member to be usedwith the belt if desired, and it also permits the belt to beinterconnected in the form of a twisted circle.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spiral conveyor belt adapted to turn on aradius where the spiral conveyor belt has a first side and a second sideand the radius is defined as a distance extending from a point spaced adistance from the first side of the spiral conveyor belt to the firstside of the spiral conveyor belt, the spiral conveyor belt comprising:aplurality of link assemblies, each link assembly being constructed of aplastic or ceramic material and having a forward end, a rearward end, afirst side and a second side, a plurality of forward link ends beingformed on the forward ends of each of the link assemblies with theforward link ends of each link assembly being spaced along the forwardend of the link assembly, a forward shaft opening being formed throughthe forward link ends, a plurality of rearward link ends being formed onthe rearward end of each link assembly with the rearward link ends ofeach link assembly being spaced along the rearward end of the linkassembly, a rearward shaft opening being formed through the rearwardlink ends on each of the link assemblies, the forward end of each linkassembly being disposed near the rearward end of another link assemblywith the forward shaft openings on each link assembly being aligned withthe rearward shaft openings on one of the other link assemblies, thefirst side of each of the link assemblies cooperating with the firstsides of the other link assemblies to form the first side of the spiralconveyor belt and the second side of each of the link assembliescooperating with the second sides of the other link assemblies to formthe second side of the spiral conveyor belt, each link assembly beingdivided into at least two sections comprising a first section extendingfrom the first side of the link assembly a distance toward the secondside of the link assembly, and a second section extending a distancefrom the first section toward the second side of the link assembly, theforward link ends in the first section being spaced a distance apart andthe rearward link ends in the first section being spaced a distanceapart, and the forward link ends in the first section being connected tothe rearward link ends in the first section by connecting memberswhereby the forward link ends and the connecting members connectedthereto are collapsible generally toward each other or expandablegenerally away from each other as the spiral conveyor belt is turned onthe radius and whereby the rearward link ends and the connecting membersconnected thereto are collapsible generally toward each other orexpandable generally away from each other as the spiral conveyor belt isturned on the radius; and a plurality of link shafts, each link shafthaving a first and a second end, each link shaft having a tapered firstsection extending a distance from the first end of the link shaft towardthe second end of the link shaft and a non-tapered second sectionextending from the tapered first section a distance toward the secondend of the link shaft, the non-tapered second section having a diameterand the tapered first section being tapered to a diameter at the firstend of the link shaft which is smaller than the diameter of thenon-tapered second section, the forward shaft openings and the rearwardshaft openings in each of the link assemblies in the first section beingsized to permit the tapered first section of the link shafts to be movedin the forward and rearward shaft openings in the first section of eachof the link assemblies as the spiral conveyor belt is moved on theradius.
 2. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein each of the linkassemblies is defined further to include a third section extending adistance from the second section to about the second end of each of thelink assemblies, the forward link ends in the third section being spaceda distance apart, and the forward link ends in the third section beingconnected to the rearward link ends in the third section by connectingmembers whereby the forward link ends and the connecting membersconnected thereto are collapsible generally toward each other orexpandable generally away from each other as the spiral conveyor belt isturned on the radius and whereby the rearward link ends and theconnecting members connected thereto are collapsible generally towardeach other or expandable generally away from each other as the spiralconveyor belt is turned on the radius, and wherein the link shafts eachare defined further to comprise a tapered third section extending adistance from the non-tapered second section to about the second end ofthe link shafts, the tapered third section being tapered to a diameterat the second end of the link shaft which is smaller than the diameterof the non-tapered second section, the forward shaft openings and therearward shaft openings in the third section of each of the linkassemblies being elongated and having a length which is greater than thediameter of the tapered third section of the link shafts at the secondend thereof to permit the tapered third section of the link shafts to bemoved in the forward and rearward shaft openings in the third section ofeach of the link assemblies as the spiral conveyor belt is moved on theradius.
 3. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 2 wherein the connectingmembers connecting two of the forward link ends in the first section ofeach of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link ends in the linkassembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape, and wherein theconnecting members connecting two of the forward link ends in the thirdsection of each of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link endsin the link assembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape.
 4. Thespiral conveyor belt of claim 2 wherein the connecting membersconnecting two of the forward link ends in the first section of each ofthe link assemblies to one of the rearward link ends in the linkassembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape with no cross membersinterconnecting the connecting members, and wherein the connectingmembers connecting two of the forward link ends in the third section ofeach of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link ends in the linkassembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape with no cross membersinterconnecting the connecting members.
 5. The spiral conveyor belt ofclaim 1 wherein the connecting members connecting two of the forwardlink ends in the first section of each of the link assemblies to one ofthe rearward link ends in the link assembly are defined further asforming a Y-shape.
 6. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein theconnecting members connecting two of the forward link ends in the firstsection of each of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link endsin the link assembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape, with nocross members interconnecting the connecting members.
 7. A spiralconveyor belt adapted to turn on a radius where the spiral conveyor belthas a first side and a second side and the radius is defined as adistance extending from a point spaced a distance from the first side ofthe spiral conveyor belt to the first side of the spiral conveyor belt,the spiral conveyor belt comprising:a plurality of link assemblies, eachlink assembly being constructed of a plastic or ceramic material andhaving a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side, aplurality of forward link ends being formed on the forward ends of eachof the link assemblies with the forward link ends of each link assemblybeing spaced along the forward end of the link assembly, a forward shaftopening being formed through the forward link ends, a plurality ofrearward link ends being formed on the rearward end of each linkassembly with the rearward link ends of each link assembly being spacedalong the rearward end of the link assembly, a rearward shaft openingbeing formed through the rearward link ends on each of the linkassemblies, the forward end of each link assembly being disposed nearthe rearward end of another link assembly with the forward shaftopenings on each link assembly being aligned with the rearward shaftopenings on one of the other link assemblies, the first side of each ofthe link assemblies cooperating with the first sides of the other linkassemblies to form the first side of the spiral conveyor belt and thesecond side of each of the link assemblies cooperating with the secondsides of the other link assemblies to form the second side of the spiralconveyor belt, each link assembly being divided into at least twosections comprising a first section extending from the first side of thelink assembly a distance toward the second side of the link assembly,and a second section extending a distance from the first section towardthe second side of the link assembly, the forward link ends in the firstsection being spaced a distance apart and the rearward link ends in thefirst section being spaced a distance apart, and the forward link endsin the first section being connected to the rearward link ends in thefirst section by connecting members whereby the forward link ends andthe connecting members connected thereto are collapsible generallytoward each other or expandable generally away from each other as thespiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius and whereby the rearwardlink ends and the connecting members connected thereto are collapsiblegenerally toward each other or expandable generally away from each otheras the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius, each of the linkassemblies having a third section extending a distance from the secondsection to about the second end of each of the link assemblies, theforward link ends in the third section being spaced a distance apart,and the forward link ends in the third section being connected to therearward link ends in the third section by connecting members wherebythe forward link ends and the connecting members connected thereto arecollapsible generally toward each other or expandable generally awayfrom each other as the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius andwhereby the rearward link ends and the connecting members connectedthereto are collapsible generally toward each other or expandablegenerally away from each other as the spiral conveyor belt is turned onthe radius; and a plurality of link shafts, each link shaft having afirst and a second end, each link shaft having a tapered first sectionextending a distance from the first end of the link shaft toward thesecond end of the link shaft and a non-tapered second section extendingfrom the tapered first section a distance toward the second end of thelink shaft, the non-tapered second section having a diameter and thetapered first section being tapered to a diameter at the first end ofthe link shaft which is smaller than the diameter of the non-taperedsecond section, the forward shaft openings and the rearward shaftopenings in each of the link assemblies in the first section being sizedto permit the tapered first section of the link shafts to be moved inthe forward and rearward shaft openings in the first section of each ofthe link assemblies as the spiral conveyor belt is moved on the radius,each link shaft having a tapered third section extending a distance fromthe non-tapered second section to about the second end of the linkshafts, the tapered third section being tapered to a diameter at thesecond end of the link shaft which is smaller than the diameter of thenon-tapered second section, the forward shaft openings and the rearwardshaft openings in the third section of each of the link assemblies beingsized to permit the tapered third section of the link shafts to be movedin the forward and rearward shaft openings in the third section of eachof the link assemblies as the spiral conveyor belt is moved on theradius; and wherein the connecting members connecting two of the forwardlink ends in the first section of each of the link assemblies to one ofthe rearward link ends in the link assembly form a Y-shape with no crossmembers interconnecting the connecting members, and wherein theconnecting members connecting two of the forward link ends in the thirdsection of each of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link endsin the link assembly form a Y-shape with no cross membersinterconnecting the connecting members.
 8. A spiral conveyor beltadapted to turn on a radius where the spiral conveyor belt has a firstside and a second side and the radius is defined as a distance extendingfrom a point spaced a distance from the first side of the spiralconveyor belt to the first side of the spiral conveyor belt, the spiralconveyor belt comprising:a plurality of link assemblies, each linkassembly having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a secondside, a plurality of forward link ends being formed on the forward endsof each of the link assemblies with the forward link ends of each linkassembly being spaced along the forward end of the link assembly, aforward shaft opening being formed through the forward link ends, aplurality of rearward link end being formed on the rearward end of eachlink assembly with the rearward link ends of each link assembly beingspaced along the rearward end of the link assembly, a rearward shaftopening being formed through the rearward link ends on each of the linkassemblies, the forward end of each link assembly being disposed nearthe rearward end of another link assembly with the forward shaftopenings on each link assembly being aligned with the rearward shaftopenings on one of the other link assemblies, the first side of each ofthe link assemblies cooperating with the first sides of the other linkassemblies to form the first side of the spiral conveyor belt and thesecond side of each of the link assemblies cooperating with the secondsides of the other link assemblies to form the second side of the spiralconveyor belt, each link assembly being divided into at least twosections comprising a first section extending from the first side of thelink assembly a distance toward the second side of the link assembly,and a second section extending a distance from the first section towardthe second side of the link assembly, the forward link ends in the firstsection being spaced a distance apart and the rearward link ends in thefirst section being spaced a distance apart, and the forward link endsin the first section being connected to the rearward link ends in thefirst section by connecting members whereby the forward link ends andthe connecting members connected thereto are collapsible generallytoward each other or expandable generally away from each other as thespiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius and whereby the rearwardlink ends and the connecting members connected thereto are collapsiblegenerally toward each other or expandable generally away from each otheras the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius; and a plurality oflink shafts, each link shaft having a first and a second end, each linkshaft having a tapered first section extending a distance from the firstend of the link shaft toward the second end of the link shaft and anon-tapered second section extending from the tapered first section adistance toward the second end of the link shaft, the non-tapered secondsection having a diameter and the tapered first section being tapered toa diameter at the first end of the link shaft which is smaller than thediameter of the non-tapered second section, the forward shaft openingsand the rearward shaft openings in each of the link assemblies in thefirst section being sized to permit the tapered first section of thelink shafts to be moved in the forward and rearward shaft openings inthe first section of each of the link assemblies as the spiral conveyorbelt is moved on the radius.
 9. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 8wherein each of the link assemblies is defined further to include athird section extending a distance from the second section to about thesecond end of each of the link assemblies, the forward link ends in thethird section being spaced a distance apart, and the forward link endsin the third section being connected to the rearward link ends in thethird section by connecting members whereby the forward link ends andthe connecting members connected thereto are collapsible generallytoward each other or expandable generally away from each other as thespiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius and whereby the rearwardlink ends and the connecting members connected thereto are collapsiblegenerally toward each other or expandable generally away from each otheras the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius, and wherein thelink shafts each are defined further to comprise a tapered third sectionextending a distance from the non-tapered second section to about thesecond end of the link shafts, the tapered third section being taperedto a diameter at the second end of the link shaft which is smaller thanthe diameter of the non-tapered second section, the forward shaftopenings and the rearward shaft openings in the third section of each ofthe link assemblies being elongated and having a length which is greaterthan the diameter of the tapered third section of the link shafts at thesecond end thereof to permit the tapered third section of the linkshafts to be moved in the forward and rearward shaft openings in thethird section of each of the link assemblies as the spiral conveyor beltis moved on the radius.
 10. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 9 whereinthe connecting members connecting two of the forward link ends in thefirst section of each of the link assemblies to one of the rearward linkends in the link assembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape, andwherein the connecting members connecting two of the forward link endsin the third section of each of the link assemblies to one of therearward link ends in the link assembly are defined further as forming aY-shape.
 11. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 9 wherein the connectingmembers connecting two of the forward link ends in the first section ofeach of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link ends in the linkassembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape with no cross membersinterconnecting the connecting members, and wherein the connectingmembers connecting two of the forward link ends in the third section ofeach of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link ends in the linkassembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape with no cross membersinterconnecting the connecting members.
 12. The spiral conveyor belt ofclaim 8 wherein the connecting members connecting two of the forwardlink ends in the first section of each of the link assemblies to one ofthe rearward link ends in the link assembly are defined further asforming a Y-shape.
 13. The spiral conveyor belt of claim 8 wherein theconnecting members connecting two of the forward link ends in the firstsection of each of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link endsin the link assembly are defined further as forming a Y-shape, with nocross members interconnecting the connecting members.
 14. A spiralconveyor belt adapted to turn on a radius where the spiral conveyor belthas a first side and a second side and the radius is defined as adistance extending from a point spaced a distance from the first side ofthe spiral conveyor belt to the first side of the spiral conveyor belt,the spiral conveyor belt comprising:a plurality of link assemblies, eachlink assembly having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and asecond side, a plurality of forward link ends being formed on theforward ends of each of the link assemblies with the forward link endsof each link assembly being spaced along the forward end of the linkassembly, a forward shaft opening being formed through the forward linkends, a plurality of rearward link ends being formed on the rearward endof each link assembly with the rearward link ends of each link assemblybeing spaced along the rearward end of the link assembly, a rearwardshaft opening being formed through the rearward link ends on each of thelink assemblies, the forward end of each link assembly being disposednear the rearward end of another link assembly with the forward shaftopenings on each link assembly being aligned with the rearward shaftopenings on one of the other link assemblies, the first side of each ofthe link assemblies cooperating with the first sides of the other linkassemblies to form the first side of the spiral conveyor belt and thesecond side of each of the link assemblies cooperating with the secondsides of the other link assemblies to form the second side of the spiralconveyor belt, each link assembly being divided into at least twosections comprising a first section extending from the first side of thelink assembly a distance toward the second side of the link assembly,and a second section extending a distance from the first section towardthe second side of the link assembly, the forward link ends in the firstsection being spaced a distance apart and the rearward link ends in thefirst section being spaced a distance apart, and the forward link endsin the first section being connected to the rearward link ends in thefirst section by connecting members whereby the forward link ends andthe connecting members connected thereto are collapsible generallytoward each other or expandable generally away from each other as thespiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius and whereby the rearwardlink ends and the connecting members connected thereto are collapsiblegenerally toward each other or expandable generally away from each otheras the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius, each of the linkassemblies having a third section extending a distance from the secondsection to about the second end of each of the link assemblies, theforward link ends in the third section being spaced a distance apart,and the forward link ends in the third section being connected to therearward link ends in the third section by connecting members wherebythe forward link ends and the connecting members connected thereto arecollapsible generally toward each other or expandable generally awayfrom each other as the spiral conveyor belt is turned on the radius andwhereby the rearward link ends and the connecting members connectedthereto are collapsible generally toward each other or expandablegenerally away from each other as the spiral conveyor belt is turned onthe radius; and a plurality of link shafts, each link shaft having afirst and a second end, each link shaft having a tapered first sectionextending a distance from the first end of the link shaft toward thesecond end of the link shaft and a non-tapered second section extendingfrom the tapered first section a distance toward the second end of thelink shaft, the non-tapered second section having a diameter and thetapered first section being tapered to a diameter at the first end ofthe link shaft which is smaller than the diameter of the non-taperedsecond section, the forward shaft openings and the rearward shaftopenings in each of the link assemblies in the first section being sizedto permit the tapered first section of the link shafts to be moved inthe forward and rearward shaft openings in the first section of each ofthe link assemblies as the spiral conveyor belt is moved on the radius,each link shaft having a tapered third section extending a distance fromthe non-tapered second section to about the second end of the linkshafts, the tapered third section being tapered to a diameter at thesecond end of the link shaft which is smaller than the diameter of thenon-tapered second section, the forward shaft openings and the rearwardshaft openings in the third section of each of the link assemblies beingsized to permit the tapered third section of the link shafts to be movedin the forward and rearward shaft openings in the third section of eachof the link assemblies as the spiral conveyor belt is moved on theradius; and wherein the connecting members connecting two of the forwardlink ends in the first section of each of the link assemblies to one ofthe rearward link ends in the link assembly form a Y-shape with no crossmembers interconnecting the connecting members, and wherein theconnecting members connecting two of the forward link ends in the thirdsection of each of the link assemblies to one of the rearward link endsin the link assembly form a Y-shape with no cross membersinterconnecting the connecting members.